Analysis of 942 challenges to deputies and senators concludes without changing results

Fabiola Martinez and Jessica Xantomila

The newspaper La Jornada
Saturday, August 3, 2024, p. 9

With the analysis of 942 challenges to the election of deputies and senators, the five regional chambers of the Electoral Tribunal of the Judicial Branch of the Federation (TEPJF) concluded their work. They did not change any count and only annulled –in total– 693 voting booths; that is, the vote sums will have variations with respect to the amounts issued by the National Electoral Institute (INE), but there is no reversal in the results.

The regional elections, one for each constituency (areas into which the country is divided in electoral terms), issued their resolutions even days before the deadline of August 3.

However, these sentences could still be challenged before the higher chamber of the TEPJF, based on a last alternative for these purposes called reconsideration appeal.

The higher court is currently resolving these appeals, but so far there is no sign of any substantial change in the district or local (state) calculations.

The official deadline is August 19, although it is estimated, according to sources consulted, that the judges will vote on the missing appeals in the session next Wednesday.

The reason for the invalidation of voting booths is mainly related to the receipt of votes by unauthorized persons.

According to counts by electoral authorities, this situation occurred to a greater extent in Jalisco, Chihuahua and Baja California, in numbers no greater than fifty polling stations.

Just a revocation

The only change was a revocation of the certificate in district 23 of the state of Mexico, but exclusively in regards to the holder of the candidacy for federal deputy, who was relieved by the substitute because he was considered a food debtor, and therefore is considered false statementscause for losing the application.

Integration of Congress

The next step, which will be the responsibility of the INE general council, will be to vote on the full integration of both chambers that make up the Congress of the Union, in a session scheduled for August 23, to know the ratification of the triumphs in each of the 300 electoral districts, as well as the remaining 200 of the Chamber of Deputies, distributed by the principle of proportional representation, as well as what concerns the 128 seats in the Senate.

Like all INE resolutions, this one can be challenged before the higher chamber, which has until August 28 to issue final rulings on the distribution indicated, also known as plurinominal, assigned based on the votes obtained by each political party, among other factors to consider.

All of the above is the preamble for the new Congress to begin work on September 1. Statistics show that out of 942 challenges resolved, 119 district counts and 24 state counts changed. In this entire process, 696 sentences were issued.